Diagnosis and management of echinococcosis in children

Abstract

Introduction. Hydatid cyst is a parasitic disease caused by Taenia echinococcus. The increase in cases of infection with the pathology presented is due to the precarious health education of both adults and children. The diagnosis is based on clinical, imaging investigations (ultrasound, CT with angiography, scintigraphy, MRI), blood analyses. The first-line therapeutic management is surgical intervention. Case presentation. Patient Z., presented to the emergency room with dyspnea that occurred three days ago and gradually worsens. The clinical examination performed in CNȘP «Natalia Gheorghiu» detects a paravertebral tumor formation on the left side of the thorax, at the intercostal level VII-VIII. Sensitive to palpation. Chest ultrasound, MRI examination revealed a left paravertebral cystic formation, with the invasion of the posterior subcutaneous and intramuscular soft tissues of the thorax. The results confirm the diagnosis of a hydatid cyst. He underwent surgical intervention - echinococcectomy. Patient M., evaluated in CNȘP «Natalia Gheorghiu» by Rx, CT with angiography of the chest – a massive cystic formation 13,0 x 8,0 cm of the left lung, with a clear margin, was detected. Surgical intervention was performed from traditional accesses: thoracotomy, echinococcal cystectomy of the left lung. Postoperative diagnosis: hydatid cyst of the left lung. Discussion. The clinical cases presented confirm the need and importance of the clinical-paraclinical examination, including the imaging examination to establish a positive diagnosis and therapeutic management. Conclusion. Based on the imaging aspect by CT with vasography, the diagnosis was specified because once the cystic formations are visualized, the necessary information is obtained about the structure of the tumor-like formations, the liquid content, and its location. CT as a non-invasive method is useful and does not pose any risk to the patient's life.